I recently went through a DevOps interview via Alignerr, which uses an AI-based assessment, and honestly, it felt quite overwhelming. The questions were much tougher than I anticipated for a fresher or junior position. Some of the topics included identifying port 22 in a configuration file, separating broad staging and development environments in a large Terraform configuration, handling multiple environment variables, and integrating Sentinel with a CI/CD pipeline. I was expecting something more along the lines of basic Terraform commands or some AWS fundamentals, but these questions felt more suited to senior-level candidates. Has anyone else faced similar intense questioning for a junior role?
4 Answers
Honestly, I think those questions are pretty standard for a DevOps position, even junior ones. DevOps roles often require a good amount of foundational knowledge, and these seem like reasonable questions to gauge that understanding. It’s becoming clear that many companies expect a lot from their 'junior' candidates these days. If you don't mind a cheeky test of your knowledge, just showing some thought process in your answers might go a long way.
For example, if they ask about port 22, you could talk about its use for SSH, even if you can't remember the exact configurations. It's really about your problem-solving approach as much as the right answers.
From my experience, many entry-level roles still expect knowledge that’s typically more suited for junior or even mid-level positions. It's a tough pill to swallow, but it’s true. These are the kinds of questions you’d expect someone with a few years of experience to know. If you’re feeling lost regarding these topics, I’d recommend diving into some tutorials and getting hands-on with these tools—practice makes perfect!
This is spot on! I've seen many people transition successfully into DevOps with targeted practice and quick-learning paths.
Yeah, I agree that these questions seem pretty basic for the role, but it really depends on the company and their expectations. Some companies don't offer much in terms of training for juniors, expecting new hires to already have that core knowledge. It's becoming increasingly common for junior interviews to cover topics that reflect senior-level expectations, which can be discouraging. Don't let that intimidate you—keep learning and developing those skills!
Exactly! Keep pushing yourself to learn, but don't hesitate to seek out companies that focus on growth and training for juniors.
I get where you're coming from—the questions are pretty intense, and DevOps isn’t usually seen as an entry-level role. But many places want candidates to hit the ground running. These questions are actually common in the field and reflect the foundational skills you should ideally have. If you found them challenging, it might be time to brush up on your networking and Linux skills. Consider setting up a personal project or lab to practice; hands-on experience is definitely your best friend here!
Great advice! I think I'll set up a small lab and start experimenting with Docker and Terraform.
Totally agree! It's more about how you approach the problem rather than just spitting out the right answer.